Are microcalcifications almost always DCIS?

Most of the time microcalcifications are b-9 and could be ADH (Atypical Ductal Hyperplaysia). I had 2 biopsies before my dx of DCIS and both times they were ADH.

The BIRADS rating can give you an idea about how suspicious for cancer the radiologist thinks the abnormality on your mammogram is. 

I've read that microcalcifications can either be BC  or not.  Nothing is confirmed until the biopsy comes back though.  Good luck and wishing you benign results!

Since you are having a biopsy, your mammo was probably BIRADs 4.  That's the most common rating for those who are sent for a biopsy.  Basically, BIRADs 4 means that a biopsy is necessary because there "are lesions that do not have the characteristic morphologies of breast cancer but have a definite probability of being malignant. "  Approx. 80% of BIRADs 4 biopsies turn out to be benign.

Of greater concern (and much more rare) is BIRADs 5.  Approx. 95% of BIRADs 5 biopsies turn out to be malignant, although around this board we've certainly seen our share of benign results.  But those with a BIRADs 5 should prepare themselves for a malignant result. 

BIRADs 1, 2 are benign findings.  BIRADs 3 is "probably benign" and usually indicates a short-interval follow-up mammo, but sometimes those with BIRADs 3 mammos are sent for biopsies.

http://www.birads.at/kategorien.html

Approx. 50% of women get calcifications and most of the time, they turn out to be nothing serious.  Only microcalcifications (i.e. tiny calcs) that are either clustered or linear are considered suspicious enough to warrant a BIRADs 4 rating and a biopsy.  But even 80% of these turn out to be benign.  As for what else the calcs can be, they can be completely benign and harmless or they could be either a low risk or high risk precancerous condition (ADH, ALH, LCIS, etc.).  If they are cancer, most of the time they are DCIS but sometimes they can be invasive cancer or a different type of cancer.

At this point, heading into a biopsy, is it much too premature to be thinking DCIS (or something more serious).  Of course that's possible, but the more likely possibility will be that your calcs will be benign.

http://emedicine.medscape.com/article/347066-overview

http://www.cpmc.org/services/women/breast/breast_califcations.html

Fingers crossed too that you're in the 80%!

I saw from your other post that you're newly married -- congratulations!! Would you mind if I give you advice I wish someone had given me when I was 30 and newly married (8 years ago)? The two BIG things I wish I'd known were:

1. Take an iodine supplement, and

2. Don't take hormone-based birth control.

If you're interested in knowing more about either of those things, do a search on the Complementary/Alternative board... in a nutshell, most people today are iodine-deficient, and iodine deficiency can lead to fibrocystic changes (benign but "lumpy" breasts), ADH, and ultimately breast cancer. 

Hormone-based birth control (e.g. the pill or Mirena), I'm becoming more and more convinced, is just as responsible for higher risk of breast cancer as hormone replacement therapy is. 

Sorry to throw those two things out there, but I find myself angry sometimes that no one EVER mentioned those two things to me and I had to find out on my own after I already had DCIS, and just had to pass along what I wish I'd known when I was younger!

Hey Ebarb.  I had calcifications for years, over 10 years actually.  I was "watched' carefully and had as mamy as 4 mammos a year. The calcifications came and went usually in different areas. In between I had a few biopsies that were all b9.  Of course there came a time I did have dcis and had surgery.  Since u r prolly young, I would not worry about it till u have too. 

My understanding is that microcalcifications mean changes in the breast tissue. Just that. Good job of being on top of things and following through. But try and not borrow trouble.(So easy to say and hard to do.) Good luck.